What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ascutney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2%).

Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ascutney	Chester
People
Population	381Lowest	2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	64.4±7.3Highest 49% above VT	49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT
Kids under 18	10.2%±10.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Chester and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.9%±15Highest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Ascutney and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±3.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Chester and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below VT	$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below VT
	Chester and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,800±$91kLowest 31% below VT	$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT
	Chester and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$960±$44 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,429Lowest 32% below VT	$4,262Highest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 33% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	17.5%±24.4Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Ascutney and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	—	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.